MedFlight 911 Steps Up to Help Afghanistan War Vet Reunite with his Unit

Dec. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- When Sergeant Mary Griswold of the Vermont National Guard put out a call for help, William Dee McCluskey, CEO of Medflight911 responded immediately.  She indicated that one of the 172nd Cavalry’s favorite sons, Sergeant Ed Matayka, wanted to be reunited with his unit as they returned from Afghanistan---but there was a catch:  Sergeant Matayka was in Richmond, VA recovering from the loss of his legs, partial paralysis and stroke caused when his vehicle was hit by an IED in Afghanistan, and his unit was going to be returning to Burlington, Vermont.

Sergeant Matayka was a Medic attached to the 172nd Cavalry division serving in Afghanistan.  As this was not his first deployment, he was a caring and cheerful mentor to the newly dispatched unit, doing what he could to prepare them for the rigors of combat.  In July, 2010, while on duty with his unit, his transport vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), and Ed was seriously wounded.  He was able to stay conscious to the point of instructing his fellow soldiers to apply tourniquet to stop the bleeding, which subsequently saved his life.  He has been struggling valiantly through rehabilitation in Richmond Virginia with the help of skilled physical therapists and his wife Karen, who is also a Medic serving with the 172nd in Afghanistan.

Finding a way to help Sergeant Matayka find the medical transport he needed to make his dream a reality is right up McCluskey’s alley.  His company, MedFlight911, has an international network of air ambulance providers to work with, and as a paramedic himself who regularly donates his time and expertise for non-profits in the Greater Phoenix area and around the Southwestern US, he has a lot of “markers” out across the emergency medical community.  He contacted David Haddad of Fumar Cigars, who is a civilian advocate and fundraiser for events and organizations that support active Military members and their families.  Through David, McCluskey was able to coordinate Sergeant Matayka’s request through Air Compassion for Veterans, who are making the arrangements for the flight. A number of Sergeant Matayka’s co-workers and associates have volunteered to provide the air escort assistance he will need during his flight and his stay in Vermont.

“The Matayka family has served their country with such dedication and sacrifice; it was a real pleasure to be able to help connect this truly deserving couple with the resources to make their dream a reality.  I will continue to watch Ed Matayka’s progress on Facebook, and am grateful for this opportunity to serve them,” says McCluskey in a recent interview.

MedFlight911 provides full service emergency medical transport and air ambulance coordination any place in the world.  For more information about MedFlight 911 medical transport services, go to www.medflight911.com, or call: 888-359-1911 for a consultation or flight estimate.

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